VIDEO: LATAM Airlines plane crashes on Peruvian runway, two firefighters dead

Gulf Today Report

A passenger plane collided with a fire engine at Lima International Airport during takeoff on Friday, setting the plane on fire, evacuating passengers and killing two firefighters, official sources said.

Lima Airport Partners, the operator of Jorge Chavez airport, said it "deeply regrets the death of two members of its air fire brigade in the accident between a fire engine and an airplane on flight LA 2213 from Lima to Juliaca" located near the border with Bolivia.

A paramedic who was in the firefighters' vehicle was also injured in the accident, according to security official Aurelio Aureliana, explaining that he was "in critical condition due to a head injury."

Operations at the country's main air terminal were suspended until 13:00 (18:00 GMT) on Saturday, according to the company itself.

For its part, the "Latam" airline, which operates this domestic flight, confirmed that "none of the passengers or crew members lost their lives."

The plane was carrying 100 passengers, two passengers and six crew members.

The general manager of LATAM in Peru, Manuel Van Ord, expressed his surprise at a press conference at the airport at the presence of firefighters on the runway, explaining that the pilot of the plane had not been informed of anything unusual.

He said, "No emergency was reported on the flight, which was in the best conditions for takeoff, and he had permission to take off and found a truck on the runway, we don't know what it was doing there."

The Ministry of Transport also confirmed that "an accident occurred on the runway of Jorge Chavez Airport." "After the death of two men from the air fire brigade and the wounding of (a paramedic), the Public Prosecutor's Office seeks to establish the facts before filing possible charges of murder and causing injury," it said.

For its part, the airport operating company stated that "its teams provide the necessary care for all passengers and they are in good health." "We are also investigating to determine the causes of the accident," she added.

Lima firefighters said the accident was reported at (20:25 GMT) and four ambulances and rescue units were deployed.

Footage filmed by witnesses to the crash and broadcast by television channels showed the plane, which flight tracking websites said was an Airbus A320, going at full speed for takeoff, then colliding with a speeding truck and blocking the road in front of it.

Since the landing gear was damaged, the plane continued its course and hit the runway with its right wing, causing sparks to be emitted. When it stopped, a thick smoke came out of it and a fire broke out.

A number of flights were canceled while others were diverted to Pisco Airport, 250 km south of Lima. International flights were also disturbed, especially with North America, as Lima is an important platform for transportation in the region.